Air valve



1,485,554 E. RoUsE r A'IR .VALVE March 4 1924;

Filed NOV. 18. 1922 N INVENTOR. mozy Crouse.

f l f ATTORNEY;

Patented Mar. 4, 1924.

EMORY CROUSE, OF vVICI-IITA, KANSAS.

AIR VALVE.

Application led November 18, 1922. Serial N o. 601,694.

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that I, EMORY CRoUsE, a c1t1- zen of the United States, residing at I'Vichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Valves; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to io which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to automatic liquid dispensing systems and relates more particularly to an improvement in valves for use in controlling the air by which the liquid is raised from the storage reservoir to 2o graduated measuring bowl.

It is becoming increasingly common today to dispense liquid fuel by means of an apparatus which requires the fuel to be elevated into a transparent graduated measuring bowl that is raised a considerable distance above the level of the ground. In elevating the liquid fuel, it is ycommon to employ pumps or air pressure. In my co-pending application, Serial Number 529,773, filed :1.o January 16, 1922, AI have shown and described a liquid dispensing system in which the compressed air is employed as the means for.

elevating the liquid fuel to vthe measuring bowl. In this system there is employed a three-way valve, by means of which the compressed air can be directed into the auxiliary underground tank for the purpose of applying a pressure to the fuel which will cause it to ow upwardly into the measuring bowl,

mosphere so as to permit the air to exhaust from the tank.` My present invention is directed to an improvement in valves of theV tom `of tank and which will also open the pipe to the at-Y ysection taken Fig. 4 is a transverse line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transversey section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. :6 is a transverse line 6-6, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of my valve; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of another portion of my valve. I

The same reference characters will be employed to designate the same parts throughout the several views. Y

In Fig. 1 I have shown a line 1, which represents the ground level below ywhich is located a main reservoir, which I have shown in dotted lines and designated by numeral 2. An auxiliary tank 3 is connected to the bot- 2 by, means of apipe 4 having a check valve 5, whichopens towards the auxiliary tank. A pipe 6 extends from the bottom of tank 3 to the measuring bowl 7. A pipe 8 connects asupply of compressed air (not shown) to the lower end 9 of m section taken on 60 improved air valve, .which I shall designate B0* as awhole by the letter V. A common globe valve-10 is provided in pipe 8 near valve V for the purpose of cutting off the air supply in case repairs become necessary. Valve V consists of ya part 9 which has a threaded openingv 11 at its lower ,end and a pair of inwardly projecting lugs 12, which serve as stops for a valve member in a manner which will presently be explained. Part 9 is provided near its upper end with anl annular shoulder 13 which co-operates with the downwardly projecting iange 14 of part 15 for the purpose oli clamping in place a liexible diaphragm 16, which serves to hold the valve member in place. Parts 9 and 15 95 are each provided with lugs 17, which are perforated for the reception of bolts 18 by means of which the parts are fastened together and the diaphragm 16 clamped between them. The kdiaphragm 16 has a cen- 100 tral opening through which extends the cylindrical portion or valve member 19 whose upper .end is threaded as indicated by nu- Y meral 20 and co-acts with a correspondingly threaded opening in -a complementary mem- 105 ber 21. At the lower end of cylindrical member-19 is a flange 22.which co-operates with the flexible member 16 toV form a seal when the valve is inoperative. A central axial opening 23 extends downwardly from 110 the top of member 2 to a point near the bottom of valve member 19. Transverse holes 24: connect the central opening 23 with the exterior of member 19 and serve as a means for enabling the air to enter this opening when the parts occupy the position shown in F ig. 3. Member21 has an annular channel 25 in its upper end and within which l place leather or composition washers 26, the 'purpose of which will appear as the description proceeds, -t will be readily apparent trom an inspection ot Fig. 2 that it air under 'pressure is admitted to the interior of member 9 it will act upon the lower surface ol! member 19 and flange 22 and torce the same against the diaphragm 16 and cause a seal to be'itormed. li the parts 19 and 21 are forced 'downwardly until the flange engages the upper surfaces of lugs 12 (F ig. 3) the transverse openings 2l will be moved to a position below diaphragm 16 and the air will flow through openings 2&1 into and out of openings 23. Member 15 has an upwardly extending portion 27 which has a slight enlargement 28 at its upper end. iin annular shoulder 29 is formed on the inside o part 28 and serves as a seat for the lower end of a spring 30. A tubular mem ber 31 carries on its upper ,end an elbow 32 which is provided with an upwardly extending ear 33. The tubular member 31 projects through the opening in part 27 and has its lower end formed of such size that it tits within the annular channel 25. The spring 30 abuts its ends against shoulder 29 and the lower edge of elbow 32 in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 2` and 3 and tends to hold the several parts in the position shown in Fig. 2. rlhe member 15 is provided with an openin on one side for the reception of vthe exhaust pipe 35. The opening'36 in elbow 32 is connected by means of aflexible connection 3T with the pipe 38 which connects with the top of the auxiliary tank 3. A lever is pivoted at 40 to a support 41 and is joined to the ear 33 by a connecting` rod 42 in such a manner that when the lever 39 is moved tothe left about its pivot (see Fig. 1) the rod Ll2 will force the tubular member 31 downwardly against the washers 26 until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. Lever 39 will be heldin valve open position by means of a latch i3 and is automatically released when the bowl 7 becomes lull. lt is evident that when the parts occupy the position shown in F ig. 3, air from the compressed air supply will flow through pipe 3 through holesv 24 into open- 23 and thence through tubular member 31 and elbow 32 into pipe 38 and to auxiliary tank 3. The air pressure acting upon the liquid in tank 3 causes the same to flow into the measuring bowl IL Vhen the latter becomes filled to the desired level theV liquid overflows into pipe lll and releases the latch 43, thus permitting spring 3() to move the tu'- bular member 31 into the position shown '1n Fig; 2.V rlhis allows parts 19 and 21 to move upward and close the valve, and it also establishes a passage trom tank 3 to exhaust pipe 38, which permits the air to exhaust from tank 3 and permits the latter' to lill again from tank 2. The means by which the overflow from bowl 7 causes the latch 43 to release, forms no part 01" my present invention, but an example of such a mechanism is shown and described in my co-pending application above identified.

My improved valve may be operated by hand when the automatic releasing means is not made a part o't' the dispensing apparatus. ln this case, the operator must obviously hold the valve in operative position while the measuring bowl is i'illed or else release the vlatch 43 when the bowl is'full.

l have describedV my y valve as provided with a spring 30 to hold the tubular member 31 in inoperative position, but l have also shown a weight W attached to the end of lever e()k for the purposev of operating the tubular member 31 in case the spring 30 breaks. The weight "W may be depended upon entirely to move the tubular member 31n and when this is r)found desirable, the spring 30 may be omitted.

l. want to call attention to the lact that valve 10 in additionl to the use specified above, also serves as a regulating-valve and is normally opened just enough to produce the required llow ont air to raise the gasolinev with a gentle flow as distinguished from the violent flow that would take place if the full air pressure was impressed upon the liquid.

lt will be apparent, from the above description, taken in' connection with the accompanying drawing, vthat l have invented al simple and substantial valve that is particularly well suited for the purpose under consideration. My valve has a few moving parts and is so constructed that it is normally sealed or leakproof.v When the valve is opened, tubular member31 is in place to conduct the air to pipe' 38 and when the valve is closed tubular member 31 is in direct communication with pipe 35 so as to permit tree exhaust'from tank 3. Pipev 35 can be extended to any suitable place, preferably to tank 2, so that no inflammable gases will be exhaustedy near the apparatus.

Having now described my invention, what l claim is: l

1. A control" device' for use in liquid dispensing' systems, comprising a hollow member having means at onev end for attaching a pipe thereto, an annular shoulder near the other end, a plurality of inwardly projecting stop members intermediate said first named end and said shoulder, a tubular member having a portion thereof projecting Iii into the hollow member and co-operating with the annular shoulder for the purpose of clamping a diaphragm in place, a diaphragm having a central opening clamped between said shoulder and said tubular member, a two part valve member in the opening in the diaphragm longitudinally movable therein and adapted to engage said stop members when moved to open position, one of said valve member parts having a circular channel at one end, resilient material insaid channel, said valve member having an axial opening therein and a transverse opening extending from one end of said axial opening to the outside of said valve member.

2. An air control device comprising a hollow member having means at one end adapted to be connected to aI source of compressed air, a valve mechanismadapted to normally prevent the compressed air from flowing out, a tubular housing surrounding the upper end of said valve mechanism, a tubularV member slidably connected with said housing said tubular member being norinallv spaced frombut movable into contact with said valve mechanism to open the same and permit air to flow, the valve mechanism having an opening registering with the opening in the tubular member for directing the air into the tubular member when the valve mechanism is open, said housing having an exhaust opening in one side thereof.

8. An air control device comprising a pair oi' hollow members adapted to be connected together, a diaphragm extending transversely of said members, means `for clamping said diaphragm iirmly in place between said members, said diaphragm having a central opening therein, ai' cylindrical valve member, having a flange at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, said valve member extending through the central opening in the diaphragm, an opening extendingV transversely through said` valve member intermediate the tlange and the threaded end and an axial opening extending from one end of said valve member and communicating with said transverse opening a second member having a threaded opening adapted to co-operate with the threaded end of the first mentioned member, an axial opening extending through the second mentioned transverse member and communicating with the axial opening in the' iirst mentioned member, a cylindrical channel in the end of the second mentioned member, a resilient washer in said channel, a tubular member slidably mounted in one of said hollow members and -adapted to engage the resilient washer in the circular channel, and means comprising a spring for normally maintaining the tubular member out of Contact with said resilient washer.

f 4. An air control device for liquid fuel.

dispensing apparatus comprising in combination a pair of hollow members, one of said members having one end adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air sup- Y ply, the other end thereof being provided with a circular shoulder, the other hollow member having an end portion adapted to co-operate with the said shoulder to clampy a diaphragm in place, a circular diaphragm having its outer edges located between said end portion and said shoulder, means cooperating with said hollow members to hold the same together and for clamping the diaphragm in place between said members, a' cylindrical valve member passing through an opening centrally-oit said diaphragm, a iiange on one end of said valve member, a threaded portion on'the other end, a transverse opening through the cylindrical niember at a point intermediate the iiange and the threaded portion, Ya second member having a threaded opening adapted to co-operate with the threaded end of the first men-V member, having a flange at one end and a threaded portion at the other end, said valve member extending through the central opening in the diaphragm, an opening extending transversely through said valve member intermediate the flange and the threaded end and an axial opening extending from one end of said valve member and communicating with said transverse opening a second member having a threaded opening adapted to co-operate with the threaded end o the iirst mentioned member, an axial opening extending through the second mentioned member and communicating with the axial opening in the first mentioned member, a cylindrical channel in the end of the. second Vmentioned member, a resilient washer in said channel, a tubular member slidably mounted in one of said hollow members and adapted to engage the resilient washerin the circular channel, and means for normally maintaining the tubular member out of contact with said resilient washer.l

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EMoRY oRoUsE. 

